Portland, OR

Sometimes, I really need to remember that not everyone is interested in “what we do in Portland…”

Not only am I a proud Portlandian, but I tend to talk about it too much when I visit people in my home state of Michigan. I need to learn to just shut up, but it’s not like I am bragging per se, but instead, I see many things that Portland does as neat and cool and that most of the people I know would really like Portland. But, most people I know in Michigan are stuck there, for lack of a better term. I just happen to be one of those people that has no qualms about moving across a continent, but most people like living close to home and family and friends — or at least that is what they say. Not that I think that anyone is envious of my nomadic lifestyle, but I remember when I was stuck in Michigan and how eager I was to get the heck out.

Not that Michigan or any home state is a bad place, but some people, like myself, feel a need to explore other lands and experience different lifestyles. We need to move away from home. We are not running away, like my uncle accused me of, but rather we are not content staying in one spot our whole lives.

However, not everyone is impressed with what we Communists and Hippies are doing out West. Most people are polite about it, and simply look bored when I bring up Portland’s propensity for gardening, our city’s incoming gay mayor, our many farmers markets and how everything is organic and local, how I can go to the store in my pyjamas and slippers and no one even bats an eyelash, how I can ride my bike almost everywhere, and how polite everyone is on our bio-diesel buses and our electric streetcars…

Yeah, I’d probably get annoyed with me, too. And since I am in Brighton, Michigan (outside of Detroit), I stand the risk of getting a ticket for annoying people with my incessant “in Portland” sentences.

I try to keep my fondness for Portland in check, but it is hard because I am and have been a little eco-nazi for years, and with Portland being such a green city (in more ways that one), I usually point out that Portland is a good place for someone like me, and then I try to work in an environmental lecture into my conversation. I would find that annoying, so I really need to find other ways to answer the question, “How’s Portland?”

From now on, I will politely say, “Come see for yourself.”

Portland, Oregon, Michigan, Brighton, Detroit, farmers markets, organic, biodiesel, environmentalists, communists, hippies

Believe it or not, most writers supplement their incomes working in restaurants. It’s easy and quick cash, and allows us plenty of time to write. And writers don’t make that much writing, and somehow we must make money to buy our laptops and internet service, right?

I have bartended and waited tables on and off for years, through college and beyond. It is a somewhat addictive lifestyle that some of us actually enjoy. I fell into that category…that is, until I moved to Portland.

For anyone out there that is thinking about either a) getting a part-time restaurant gig in PDX or b) moving to Portland and getting a restaurant job as their main source of income — BEWARE.

I have worked in five restaurants in the last fifteen months. I “opened” three of those restaurants, meaning that I was hired before the restaurant opened its doors and was part of the opening staff. At least, two of those restaurants are now closed. I write “at least” because a third may have closed. I haven’t checked on it since I left it after two weeks of being open with absolutely no business. A fourth restaurant was struggling to stay open, so truthfully, it may have also closed its doors.

Now granted, the current economy has not helped, but I am going to piss some people off by saying that the Portland restaurant scene is like amateur hour.

I know, I know, you want to say how great our restaurants are, and I won’t argue with you. We have some good chefs and great local product. Dining here is rather unpretentious, and at times very affordable. Portland has a good restaurant scene if you are a diner.

However, if you are a restaurant professional, and I use that term loosely, you can never be too sure about your next paycheck or night’s tip.

For example, I opened a very high-end place this last May/June. It supposedly had a lot of money behind it, enough that it could operate at a loss for quite some time, as the restaurant waited until it generated enough sales to cover its seemingly astronomical operating expenses. The place just announced last week it was shutting its doors and closed down three days later. As I am no longer with that company (thank goodness for many other reasons in addition to its abrupt end), I have no idea what will happen to its 60+ employees, and I feel very sorry for the staff. They put in an inordinate amount of work for six long, underpaid months, only to be told two weeks before Xmas that they would no longer have a job. I hope that the corporate overlords gave them all a nice severance package, but as it is the restaurant biz, I highly doubt it.

Another restaurant I opened last winter shut down after two months. At the time, I had to take a leave of absence for a family matter, and I was not dependent on that income, thankfully, but again, a large staff was told with very little warning that they were out of work. The saddest part was that this restaurant was part of the Hayden empire, and a few other restaurants were shut down by the financing company (or so I heard) at the same time. More hard-working restaurant people out of work.

I don’t quite get it. Does Portland give people delusions of grandeur in thinking that if they build it, people will eat there? Restaurants are notoriously bad businesses if you want to make a lot of money. The profit margins are small. Unless it is your true and absolute passion, don’t open a restaurant. It’s a money-sucking bitch goddess that will leave you and your bank account dry.

Sadly, waiter and waitresses get sucked into what becomes a mass delusion. They are told about how much money they will make, and how well the business is going to be, only to realize soon enough that they have been suckered into taking a minimum wage job with no future past a few months. And then the vicious cycle will start again with the next job.

It does however seem like a (fool’s) paradise for restaurant consultants. When a restaurant is failing, a consultant is inevitably called in, to little or no avail. But they still get paid, and move onto the next failing business to not help.

But to all my restaurant-employed or potentially-employed brethren, I urge you to watch out when hired at a place in this town. Very few restauranteurs seem to know what they are doing in this town (more so than many other places I have lived and worked). Luckily, I found a pretty good place right now for a night or two a week. The owners are saavy, and besides that I like them. Unfortunately, the economy is soooo bad, that tips are harder to come by through no fault of the establishment. Time for a dreaded day job…or grad school.

Portland, restaurants, dining, jobs, business, restauranteur, consultant, corporate, bartending, waiting tables, waiters, waitresses

Never have I lived in a city where thrift store/secondhand store/used goods store shopping is so big. In most cities, if I am in a Goodwill, I have my run of the store. But here in Portland, these stores are crowded. And it’s not just the crappy economy…

I mean, vintage, sure, that’s always hot in certain sub-populations all over the place, and sure, you will see a large percentage of those populations (hipsters, goths, etc.) at your local Goodwill or Salvation Army store. But in P-town, you will see all ilks of society, picking through the books, or browsing the kitchen stuff, looking for treasure.

That said, I checked out the newest Goodwill store in the Woodstock Neighborhood. It’s just south of the intersection of SE Woodstock and SE 52nd Avenue. It’s that awful yellowy-beige, manilla-folder color, and it’s shaped like a big box, but the facade has some windows and the blue tile design that Goodwill stores always have. You certainly don’t shop at Goodwill for the architectural charm.

Anyhoo, I had to find a laptop bag, and rather than plunking down a lot of money for a new, dandy laptop bag, I thought that it would be a good excuse to stop by the new Goodwill. I really didn’t expect to find anything, but as soon as I walked in the door, I had this competitive urge to find a proper bag.

To the left was the big wall of purses. I headed there as a starting point. Ah ha, I saw that past the purses there were shelves for backpacks, duffels, briefcases. But wait, a woman was in front of the area. My arrival made her aware of her position, and she slid closer to the purses. But then, out of nowhere, this old skinny Alan Alda-type guy is right next to me. Hi, personal space, please. He starts grabbing for bags, like right in front of me. Hold on there, buddy, I was here first.

He didn’t care. So, I didn’t care. I paid him no attention as I reached out for the prospects on the shelf. Of course, thinking laptop bag, I am looking at the black bags with straps. No padding though. And Alda starts looking at briefcases, so I could relax. We are going after different things.

I found a crazy blue bag, that was brand-new. The little bag for your power cord inside the bag was still wrapped in plastic. Score. But then, a little kid has trapped me against the shelves, with this old guy to the left of me, and the kid’s mom, complete with stroller, to my right.

If I haven’t mentioned it before, I am not a good shopper. I get freaked out when I feel boxed in by people. I started coughing, the old guy backed away, and I ducked out of the trap. Ahh.

It was such a harrowing experience that I didn’t look for anything else. And then, of course, when I was waiting in line to pay, the person in front of me was the old guy. How did he get there so fast? And he had a store credit voucher (the place has only been open 4 days, mind you — perhaps it’s from another store, or he just shows up everyday to invade other shoppers’ personal spaces and then sprints to the check-out to further drive that same shopper absolutely crazy!!), and some manager had to be called to help the cashier check him out. Three and half minutes later, and I’m free with a laptop case and a package of Sweettarts for $3.68. Not bad.

Upon rereading those last few paragraphs, it may not have sounded like such a pleasant shopping experience, but I guess for me the ends justifies the means.

Goodwill, Woodstock, Salvation Army, Portland, thrift, secondhand, used, shopping, vintage, clothing, books, treasure, economy

So, I finally broke it to my family today, that I will not be returning home for the holidays this December. There are many reasons for this but number one is…I don’t want to deal with a Midwest winter, even for a week.

Other reasons…

1. I don’t like flying around the holidays. Way too many kids. Too much carry-on stuff to fight.

2. Flights are more expensive, and more likely to be delayed or canceled due to inclement weather. Not to mention, I really hate hanging out in an airport for more than thirty minutes, after an eight-hour delay from Midway (possibly the lamest of all airports — wait, Grand Rapids is the absolute worst, so I am not taking into consideration minor markets, so Midway is the lamest of the big market airports) to La Guardia.

3. I actually don’t enjoy Xmas or any of the holidays, except Fourth of July. What can I say, I like to light things on fire and then they go boom.

Not to mention, this is a busy time of the year for me and my video game addiction. It’s hard to explain to loved ones that sorry, I’d love to talk about that one time when I was little, but I am so close to finishing another level of Ninja Gaiden.

By the way, has anyone else noticed that commercials for video games have gotten pretty badass lately? Of course, you don’t watch television.

And again, my number one reason for not returning to the cold, continental winter season of the middle of the country is the cold, continental winter of the middle of the country. I hate to sound so callous and perhaps shallow, but seriously, winter can suck in those areas without mountains or something cool to ski down.

I remember everyone asking me, “How was your first Portland winter? Did it just rain the whole time?”

Myths dispelled…

1. It does not rain all of the time. Just most of the time, and even then it is a softer, constant rain, rather than hard, driving rain coupled with a windchill below freezing.

2. It is quite temperate here. For instance, last winter, I had calendula blooming throughout. It is November 17th, and I have zucchini coming in. It doesn’t freeze here, that often or for long.

3. If you dress appropriately, winter in Portland can be a lovely experience. The smaller streams are running high, and the light quality is reminiscent of Rivendell from the LOTR movies.

Portland, Midwest, winter, weather, rain, continent, holidays, Midway, La Guardia, Grand Rapids, family, Fourth of July, NInja Gaiden, mountains, calendula

Today was a lovely day for golfing — in November.

One of the many wonderful things about living in Portland, Oregon is that you can golf pretty much year-round. You may not be dry or warm, but technically, you can golf. I went out today and it was very pleasant. I wore a t-shirt, and rolled up the pants I was wearing, so if that tells you anything, it was quite warm. The rain held off for the afternoon, so rain gear was not necessary.

This picture has nothing to do with me or my day, I just thought it was funny.

I played 9 at Eastmoreland. The course is in good condition, not too muddy — actually not that muddy at all on the front nine. The course was wide open, with a single ahead of my twosome, and a single behind us. We played in an hour and a half if that tells you anything.

If I remember correctly, last year I played through the beginning of December, and then started up again in early February. I was in Florida for January, but my boyfriend said it was too cold to play in January.

If you golf, Portland is a dream. The city courses are cheap and kept in really nice condition. The golfers are nice and know their golf etiquette. The non-municipal courses are even better, and not much more expensive for the most part. You can find good deals online (golfnow.com) and a lot of the resort courses offer deals.

On another note, for anyone who plays golf on a gaming console, I have a bit of a bitch about Tiger Woods. Why is it that the last few years of Tiger Woods doesn’t allow for two players to play the PGA season in the game together? I finally got Tiger Woods 08 for the Xbox 360, and it won’t even let two player profiles to save in the system between sessions. It really pisses me off, and I am about the scrap the whole thing. It is so frustrating to have a game in which the only way I can play against someone sitting right next to me is to go out and buy two consoles, two televisions and two games so that we can play against each other online?!? WTF? Tiger Woods is lame. I haven’t liked the game since the 05 version.

That said, if anyone out there knows how to play it with two players, please let me know.

Portland, Oregon, golf, golfing, Eastmoreland, city courses, municipal courses, golfing conditions, Tiger Woods, Xbox 360, game, video games

I wrote last week about how much I was crying for the last few minutes of Barack Obama’s 30-minute ad/special/info-mercial/whatever. Well, let’s just say I went through a lot of tissue Tuesday night.

I meant to go out. When I got done with my class, I planned on heading out to the Gladstone pub to be around others for such a momentous occasion, but after sitting down and turning on CNN, then MSNBC, then Fox News (I like things fair and balanced afterall), then NBC — you see where this is going, don’t you? I got sucked into switching between the channels, being the political and news junkie that I am, and never left the house.

A friend called my from RonTom’s and said that they had a huge screen for the television coverage. She was heading over to Doug Fir, and though I was tempted, I was already crying after Ohio went Democratic, so decided to keep my tears and my overwhelming emotions private. Not to say that I would have been embarrassed to shed tears of joy and relief, but I get really snotty when I cry, so for the good of those around me, I stayed home.

I did, however, crack a bottle of bubbly and toasted my boyfriend when Obama took the stage in Grant Park.

And watching the celebration in Chicago was equally emotional for me, as I left Chicago and Senator Obama for Oregon. I totally missed Sweet Home Chicago that night. And I was a little jealous of all those who were there to witness history in person.

During my class on Tuesday, my students asked who I voted for. I said Obama, and careful to not inject politics too much into a class of grade-schoolers, I said that Obama had been my senator in Illinois and he had done a really good job. I didn’t feel the need to explain the larger picture, and as a few little girls had mentioned that they had voted (aw, it’s so cute when little kids vote in their classes) for John McCain, I wouldn’t want to make those little girls feel badly for supporting whomever they supported.

And that brings me to today’s point — finally, I know — the Obama presidency will not be about making anyone feel badly for thinking one way or another. A hypothetical McCain presidency was definitely showing indications of division. This nation has been divided enough. This world has been divided enough.

Bring us together, President Obama.

Barack Obama, election, Oregon, Chicago, Portland, Illinois, McCain, CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, NBC, RonToms, Doug Fir, Gladstone, Ohio

I just finished watching the Barack Obama 30-minute campaign “special” — not really sure what to call it, but I know how it made me feel.

Of course, I had heard most of it before, but tonight, I spent the last five minutes of the what would you call it, a “simul-mentary”(?) crying. Actually, crying. Sure, the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics made me cry, too, but very few things make me cry like I did tonight.

It was tears of fear. It was during that last little excerpt (about 6:30 into the clip) from the speech Obama made at the Democratic National Convention, about being imperfect, but he will let us know where he stands and he will be honest with us…well, it was at that moment that the crushing frustration suffered over the last eight years of my life all came back to me and welled up inside like hastily-eaten soup.

I am so …startled.

No, but seriously, I am scared. That another republican can win the White House. It would really kill me. It would kill that beautiful optimistic side of me that keeps giving my pessimistic side such a hard time.

For those of you that have always lived in Portland or another fairly liberal city, you don’t know what it is like to live under the oppression of a dominant political party like the Republican Party. I’m sure there is a bad side to living in a super-liberal town, too…I just cannot think of one. But I grew up in the Republican Stronghold of Western Michigan. My older-than-most-kids parents were moderates from Detroit (which meant overall they were rather conservative by my Marxist standards), and upon moving west to Grand Rapids, even they were shocked (and awed) by the ultra-conservative nature of the area. It was uber-religious and the religion of all was the Christian Reformed Church, a very churchy group.

Now, please, don’t misunderstand, I have no gripe against religious people. I know great people of every creed, but what I do have a gripe about is how certain “conservatives” are so keen on imposing religious rules on those who are not of that particular faith. Nor do I have problems with Republicans, either. What I do have a problem with is a tendency to rule by fear. Very Orwellian with a strong Machiavellian undercurrent.

My tears tonight were shed for a frustrated childhood in a conservative city, where anyone who thinks a little differently is a threat. Other schools of thought and points of view are not respected, and we are seeing that in this Presidential election.

My tears tonight showed me just how hopeful I really am.

Please vote… for America.

Obama, 30 minute, special, campaign, ad, commercial, simul-mentary, Barack, presidential, election, vote, America, conservative, liberal, Detroit

A friend of mine, an almost recent transplant from Salt Lake City, told me an alarming tale. She had flipped her mattress found spots of mold on the side that had been on a floor. She scrubbed the spots with bleachy water, and decided to keep the mattress off the floor now. She’s 28, and finally bought her first bed frame when she found the mold. She joked that she’s finally an adult. No more college decor schemes using cinder blocks, either.

This isn’t my friend’s place. I just really dig this picture. Gross.

Anyway, it underscores the problem of mold, a spore-borne growth, in our homes. Some of us are quite sensitive to our little green, orange, and black friends, and my friend reported that she had been really lethargic lately and prone to sleeping all day, uncommon for her normally.

Personally, I cannot breathe out of my nose due to severe congestion, and I have totally lost my sense of smell since moving here to Portland. Also, when I moved here, I ended up in the hospital within ten days of my arrival due to a severe asthma attack (not having health insurance, the most awesome people at Legacy Good Samaritan took excellent and generous care of me — another post, another day). So yeah, I would think it is safe to say that Portland has it’s fair share of allergens.

My last summer in Chicago was also a tough time for me and my nose. I pretty much stayed inside an air-conditioned apartment for an entire summer. Lame. My doc there said that a mild winter failed to kill off the molds and the counts were astronomical that summer. Super.

Well, guess what? I moved to Portland, and it is always a mild winter that fails to kill off molds. If I am wrong about that, please correct me. I am simply using logic to develop this hypothesis.

When I look back on my life, I see a pattern. I lived in Southern California, twice, for a touch less than a year each time. I didn’t like it the first time, but thought maybe it was just my bad attitude, so tried it a second time — no, it just sucks. But one thing I never had a problem with while residing in that dry Mediterranean-like climate were allergies nor did I have any issues with my asthma. Even on the really smoggy days, but then I lived in the hills, close to the Pacific, and most of the smog seemed to settle inland in the valleys.

No matter. I am not moving back to SoCal. Ever. Ever.

I really love Portland, don’t get me wrong, but come on with the mold and fungi and lichen and moss everywhere. It is really, really lush here. Is that why my darn allergies are crazy here?

I did meet someone recently who told me that she had bad allergies for her first year here and then got over them…so maybe I just need to be patient. Or move closer to the ocean…

mold, spores, fungal growth, allergies, asthma, Portland, Oregon, Chicago, Southern California, Pacific

Today’s post is a little bit of everything.

Firstly, I did in fact go to Doug Fir last night to see Tim Finn. Awesome show, and I am so happy I went. I was sitting at home writing an article on rising sea levels in Africa, and watching the Republican National Convention. All the sudden, it was 9pm, and the show was set to start at 9pm. I had a little debate with myself, and said, you know you have waited your whole life to see Tim so just go already. I hopped in the car. Upon arrival at Doug Fir (my first time), the door guy asked me if I was by myself, and being a loser with no friends, I said yes. He said it was my lucky day, as he had an extra ticket for me. It is like I was meant to be there…

The cutest, most adorable little thing, Jasmine Ash, opened. Just her and an acoustic guitar. She has a sweet, soft voice, which usually isn’t something I dig, but she was really quite good. I checked out her myspace page, and she is a local Portland act. I will definitely try to catch her again. I told her I was going to put her in my pocket and take her home. She didn’t seem adverse to the idea.

Here’s a video she has out on her myspace page.

Tim Finn came on, and wow, what an amazing show. The man has been performing since before I was born, and he is very comfortable in front of an audience. He was exceedingly charming, and I must say, Mr. Finn has only grown more handsome over the years. He opened with “Parihaka,” a song off the self-named album that he released in 1989. I still have that cassette, but alas, no cassette player, so I have not heard that song in forever. He played a really nice blend of old favorites and newer stuff, and a lot off of the Crowded House album, Woodface, on which Tim was a full-fledged member of that band. I was starting to think, wow, there is a lot off Woodface, when he explained “we are in Woodface kind of mood tonight.” That makes sense, and the 40 of so people in the audience seemed to respond best to those songs, so as long as everyone is happy. I would have liked a few more early, solo-career songs, but it is always difficult to please everyone. Tim Finn did a great job and ended the show with a promise to be back next year (promoting a new album). Also, props go out to his band members, maybe Greg on electric guitar and Simon on keys. I didn’t quite catch the names, but talented young men, and Greg did a nice job singing along on some of the harmony-based Crowded House and Split Enz songs.

Funny side note, actually two: Finn mentioned that he went to Powell’s, like everyone who visits Portland does, and he said it was just too much for him. I couldn’t agree more, that place is totally sensory overload. You have to be in the proper mood to battle the crowds, and have plenty, and I mean plenty, of time to wander. Also, Finn said that Doug Fir had a very “Twin Peaks” feel about it. Exactly what I thought when I got there. More red velvet and it would be uncanny.

Moving on to Music Fest Northwest, I know a bunch of bands are playing this weekend. I am going to try and catch as many as I can, but I say that now, and I tend to get very comfortable at home, so we’ll see what I get out of my house for. I wouldn’t mind seeing Built to Spill…

To end, I have to say that Portland has an incredible music scene for those of us that really love music. And when I say music, I don’t mean corporate-committee-overly-produced-whatever-sells-the -most-singles music for the masses. I spent my last two teenage years in Chicago during the early-to-mid nineties, which was a great time for music, and Chicago was a hub for that scene then. Lots of small venues, great relatively unknown bands, you could see a great show any night of the week. I had a radio show on WHPK (the pride of the South Side, University of Chicago’s station with a range of maybe nine miles), so I got a lot of free tickets and never got carded for some reason, despite my baby face. Portland reminds me a lot of that time. Not only are there some pretty awesome local acts, but it seems that Portland is always a stop on bands that matter tour schedule. Small venues make such a difference if you want to feel connected with your favorite bands.

If you cannot find something to do in Portland, it’s your own fault.

Tim Finn, Jasmine Ash, Portland, Doug Fir, Crowded House, Split Enz, Music Fest Northwest, MFNW, Built to Spill, Chicago, University of Chicago

I have noticed that an inordinate amount of people my age and younger in Portland do not either own a TV or subscribe to cable.

WTF?

Seriously, I understand that most, if not all television pretty much sucks, but come on, television is one of those things that we all watch and rely on as a common denominator. I mean, sometimes I will watch a show just to see what it is in case I come across a trivia question about it in the future. It’s called Pop Culture, people! Hell, I even watched an episode of Grey’s Anatomy just to how much it sucked, and boy, did it.

I am one of those people that loves TV. And I don’t mean that I love what is on TV for the most part, but just the whole idea, process and culture of TV. For goodness sake, I majored in film and television studies, so I think I had better find some sort of enjoyment in television, even if only on an academic level.

So, to the young people of Portland, television can be a wonderful thing. Have you watched Science Channel? SciFi channel? Cartoon Network?! What about PBS? Even if you think you are too good to watch the usual television shows, you have to tune in for an occasional Frontline or Nature or Charlie Rose.

I tend to like to talk TV as well, and it is so frustrating to me when I bring up last night’s Project Runway (SOOO HAPPY that ever-whiny Keith is gone, btw), and the person I am trying to talk to says, “Oh, I don’t watch TV.” It’s like them saying I don’t care about the collective experience of living in the age of mass media. I think that some people see it as a badge of “coolness” to not watch TV. Those people are lame, if you ask me. How can you not be curious about commerical entertainment, even as an exercise in studying the medium?

Also, I do suspect that some of those non-TV-watchers are lying to me. Trying to appear as though they are “above” it. You know the type…they only listen to obscure bands, and try to make you feel like a soccer mom if you admit you have never heard of that band that only has an EP out anyway. I am sure that those hipsters (god, I hate that term as much as I hate the uniform of tight jeans and graphic faux-80’s t-shirts they all wear) have watched American Idol, but are too worried about admitting it and losing their street cred.

Disclaimer: I do know some people that simply cannot afford to get cable, and therefore they are excluded from my rant. They at least watch TV via the web or get the DVDs through Netflix.

TV, television, Portland, cable, pop culture, Science Channel, SciFi, Cartoon Network, PBS, Frontline, Nature, Charlie Rose, Project Runway, American Idol, Netflix, Grey’s Anatomy

Something about Portland is starting to bothering me. There seems to be a secret pact among employers here to give preference to Portlanders and Oregonians when hiring.

Prove me wrong, children, prove me wrong.

A little bit about me. I have lived in a lot of places and never have I had as much trouble finding viable employment, but since I have been in Portland, I have been struggling to find a decent job. I applied at a photography studio as a production coordinator (my last full-time job before I moved), and after two interviews, I didn’t even get a call back thanking me for coming in, twice. That is a little impolite, regardless of whether or not I was the best person for the job. Come on, at least call the job seeker back to let them know. I waited two weeks before giving up on that one.

I interviewed for a bartending job recently and the owner of the bar/restaurant told me that my “weakness” was that I had never bartended in Portland before. Considering the service I seem to get at most bars (Jeffrey at Kay’s is the exception), how is not having Portland experience a “weakness?” If I were running a bar here, I would welcome new Portlanders, but then, after two bartending gigs in this town, I can officially say that Portland has killed my fondness for tending bar. Making drinks used to be fun until I started doing it in PDX.

Let that be a warning to all of you service industry pros: Portland is a different beast entirely. I have started referring to it as “amateur night.” If my employer isn’t expecting me to wear a halter top and more make up, they seem to be more concerned about saying they are a manager rather than managing.

But I digress…again.

As a new Portland resident, I do just want to address the nepotism and Oregon-native-preferential hiring practices. You know, I didn’t move out here just to take a job away from an Oregon-native. My boyfriend got a job, and I followed him because I like him. Does that make me any less qualified for a position?

A Portlander told my boyfriend that it takes a good two years to get established here. I have been here for nine months and four jobs later, I am still searching for a job that doesn’t objectify my femaleness or dick me around otherwise. I am frustrated, to say the least. But hey, I am hoping to start grad school soon, so wish me luck in getting accepted at Lewis and Clark. Maybe my University of Michigan education will finally pay off. (Side note: A bachelors degree is not enough, and not looked at any more favorably than a high school diploma. A shame.)

So, to all of you thinking about moving to Portland, Oregon, or those of you struggling like me to find your niche, it may take a while. Be prepared for that.

Portland, Oregon, hiring, jobs, seekers, nepotism, bartending, production coordinator, Lewis and Clark

Ok, so it may not be as glamorous as the so-called jet set, but then again, would you really want to hang around those people?

I finally got a bike, and riding around Portland is a totally “cool” experience. Other than those people, mostly older men, that insist on wearing those dreadful biking shorts, the people I see out in the bike lanes are, well, cool. I saw quite a few really hot guys, so a tip to all you single ladies, get yourself a bike.

I unfortunately went for the retro 3-speed bike, which is all well and good in certain situations, mainly those that do not involve elevation changes. Guess what, Portland is pretty hilly. Not San Francisco hilly, but hilly all the same, especially for someone like me who has let my bike riding thighs fall out of shape. I need to get a true commuter bike, with a lot of gears, but then again, first I will have to get some strength in my legs to really get around town.

All in all, fellow bicyclists are very friendly in this town, much like the drivers. Yes, it is true that Portland must have some of the nicest drivers in the US. I mean, I stand next to a road, not even remotely by a crosswalk or anything, and more often than not, someone stops for me. That is so nice. In fact, the Ross Island Bridge on-ramp could never happen in most towns. It is not often that motorists will stop without being told to in order to allow those at a cross-street to enter heavy traffic.

But I digress…the Portland bicyclist is polite and courteous. Biking in Portland is equally pleasurable. The city is immensely bike-able (other than for wusses like me). Bike lanes are a-plenty, and the city is going even further in making Portland super-bike-friendly with bike boxes at intersections.

I went to the city’s transportation website and requested a bunch of maps, information on biking, and even bumper stickers for both my bike and my car that state how much I “share the road.” If you too would like to see the online maps or request paper versions, check out this website link. There are maps for the whole city as well as the quadrants. The maps even feature walking tours. How cute is that…

I know, I am getting pretty good at finding out it is some national something week. This time, it is Air Quality Awareness Week.

A fact: I moved to Portland seeking cleaner air. I have asthma, and the Chicago air was literally killing me. Over the course of three years, my asthma became continually worse living in the city, and I had to make a choice. Luckily, that choice was a no brainer. I had happily moved to Oregon once before, but didn’t stay long as I went back east to finish school because you know, you really need that college degree.

Yes, that last line was sarcasm. I am a blogger after all. That University of Michigan degree has served me well. Well, indeed.

Here is a comparison between Portland’s air quality trends from the last few years and Chicago’s. I am throwing LA in just to laugh at LA.

Portland, Oregon

Chicago, Illinois

Los Angeles, California

I am not picking on Los Angeles. I am simply using LA as the measure for worst air quality in the US, as named by the American Lung Association last year. Don’t get too smug however, as Portland was beat out of the top twenty-five by cities like Miami and Reno.

Anyhoo, the prescribed “activity” for the official National Air Quality Awareness Week is to educate yourself on what causes poor air quality. Woo-hoo, here it is.

Air quality where you live can vary depending on how much air pollution is emitted in your community, how much pollution is carried into your community on the wind, and by weather conditions.

Ozone forms when two key pollutants, nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) “cook in the sun.” These pollutants are precursors to ozone formation, meaning they must be present in the air for ozone to form. Particle pollution can be directly emitted (like smoke from a woodstove), but a lot of particles form when gases react in the air. NOx and sulfur dioxides (SO2) contribute to particle formation.

These ozone and particle-forming pollutants come from a wide variety of sources, including mobile sources, power plants, and industries. Natural sources contribute, too: wildfires and volcanoes contribute to particle pollution, while trees and other vegetation can contribute both to particle and ozone pollution.

Weather plays a big role in the levels of ozone and particle pollution in your community. Sunlight and heat, for example, promote ozone formation. Light winds and temperature inversions both can keep pollution from dispersing. And depending on its direction, the wind can bring in more pollution – sometimes from hundreds of miles away. Geography can affect pollution levels too; mountain ranges, such as those in southern California, can prevent pollution from dispersing.

With sunlight being a major factor in ozone formation, no wonder Portland doesn’t have smog, right?

Still, I don’t know. I really wouldn’t consider reading about smog formation an “activity,” but at least we all learned something. You can find more information for tomorrow’s activity by checking out the website here.

Air Quality Awareness Week, air pollution, ozone, smog, Portland, Oregon, Chicago, Illinois, Los Angeles, California, EPA, asthma

If you know who these men are, chances are you “antique.”

Ok, first, I am not one to “antique” as a verb, per se, but I am an avid viewer of PBS’ Antiques Roadshow, as well as Bargain Hunt on BBC, and I do have quite a collection of antiquated technology (cameras, a turn dial adding machine, a late 1920’s typewriter), but again, I am not one to antique.

No, really.

Fine, I antique. There I said it and admission is the first step to recovery, right?

Since I moved to Portland, I have heard it mentioned that the Sellwood neighborhood is kind of known for its antique shops. I resisted as long as I could, though I did happen to visit some antique shops out in Yamhill, and today, I decided to spend Earth Day finding treasures from the past. Recycling as it were.

I thought today would be a good day for it. Raining, for the most part, grey, and slightly chilly. And it may have been a good day to visit the plentiful antique shops in Sellwood, but I will never know personally. I didn’t arrive until a little after 5pm, and alas most, if not all, of the shops had closed up for the day. The world is not scheduled for slow-pokes like me.

So, my advice to anyone who decides to go “antiquing” in Sellwood: Show up before five. And there are not one but two areas for the antique shops. The first is along SE Milwaukie also known as 17th or 16th ave in that area, past and around the intersection at SE Bybee. There is a second more-densely-antique-shop-populated area along 13th around SE Tacoma. I didn’t know that, so maybe someone else out there can benefit from this information.

Sellwood, Portland, Antiques Roadshow, Bargain Hunt, antiquing, Yamhill, Earth Day

Bill Clinton has come to Oregon, stumping for Hillary. My question is, Where’s Hillary? I’d rather see her at this point, but then again, Bill has always been entertaining to say the least.

According to MSNBC via the AP:

Campaign spokesman Isaac Baker said Hillary Clinton “will be campaigning aggressively all over Oregon, including campaigning aggressively in Southern Oregon.” No dates have been announced.

Nice tie, Bill.

According to Bill’s published schedule, he was in Medford yesterday, and spent this morning having way too much fun at Mary’s, I mean OSHU for a “Solutions for the Economy” event (at a hospital?). He then followed that good time up with a short stint listening to the old folks in SE Portland. Right about now, he is probably en route from Salem to Bend, which is a very pretty drive, where he will be speaking at Bend Senior High, where he will be holding a “Solutions for America” event. Oh, I see the pattern now.

Still, I am awaiting an email requesting me to make good on my checked box indicating that I am willing to volunteer.

If I were to volunteer for Hillary Clinton (and as of today, I have no real inclination other than out of curiosity or maybe that whole underdog thing), it would be the second time volunteering for a Clinton. I also worked on Bill’s campaign way back in high school, before I could actually vote. I was so young and idealistic back then…memories. Anyway, it was a lame experience with a bunch of older douchebags telling me what to do, like phoning people during dinner and making posters for a rally I was then denied entrance to, but hey, I could be part of the group of losers who couldn’t get inside the rally that stood outside and “welcomed” the candidate. And then Bill showed up, and made his way down the line of welcomers, including a snooty little me, who asked him as she shook his hand why she could not attend the rally despite the fact she had spent three hours the night before calling people in support of said candidate. Oh, and Slick Willy, he had a response. “If it were up to me, you’d all be inside.” Nice. Nice.

Bill, Hillary, Clinton, campaigning, Portland, Medford, Salem, Bend, Oregon